Arizona’s Northern Counties Brace for More Storms Amid Emergency Declaration
In response to severe weather that has devastated parts of northeastern Arizona, Gov. Katie Hobbs has declared a state of emergency for Navajo and Coconino counties. This action comes over a week after the region faced destructive flooding and tornadoes, impacting both rural and tribal areas.
The emergency decree allocates $200,000 to support a state emergency management agency tasked with aiding communities affected by the storms. Notably, the storm system brought three tornadoes, with significant damage reported in Heber-Overgaard where over 20 structures were affected.
As the weekend approaches, the National Weather Service has issued flood warnings across northern and central Arizona due to an incoming storm expected to last from Saturday night to early Monday morning. The potential for more flooding is a major concern for the Four Corners region, where residents are still recovering from prior evacuations and the flooding of homes.
“I am committed to making sure each community has the resources it needs to continue recovering, and am thankful to everyone who is supporting ongoing recovery efforts,” stated Hobbs in a press release regarding the state-level declaration.
During a visit to Flagstaff’s Nackard Pepsi bottling plant, Hobbs mentioned plans to meet with leaders from the Navajo, Hopi, and San Juan Southern Paiute tribes to discuss the ongoing flooding issues.
She highlighted the role of local jurisdictions, emphasizing that counties must request state-level emergency declarations. A state lawmaker from Navajo County had initially advocated for such a declaration the previous week.
With the state declaration in place, Hobbs has the option to pursue federal assistance by seeking a presidential emergency or major disaster declaration. The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would assess such a request and provide a recommendation to the President.
An aide from Hobbs’ office communicated via text that the flooding does not currently satisfy the criteria necessary for federal declarations.
Tribal Nations Navigate Their Own Path to Disaster Relief
Federally recognized tribal nations have an independent route to secure disaster relief. Tribes can directly approach FEMA to request a declaration, unlocking further funding and support for their communities.
Last week, the Hopi Tribe declared a state of emergency in response to the flooding, and officials intend to seek further assistance from state and federal levels.
A chapter leader from Rock Point on the Navajo Nation reported that FEMA was conducting an initial evaluation of the damage in the area as of Wednesday. However, the Navajo Nation had not yet submitted a disaster declaration request to FEMA by Thursday afternoon.
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